Minnesota Aurora FC welcomes Minnesota Lynx’s Carley Knox, Cheryl Reeve as investors

Minnesota Aurora FC announced today that Minnesota Lynx President of Business Operations Carley Knox and President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Cheryl Reeve have joined the club as investors. Together, Knox and Reeve have won six WNBA titles – two with the Detroit Shock and four with Lynx. In addition, Reeve has won three Olympic gold medals with USA Basketball and two World Cup gold medals. 

Each brings more than 20 years of experience in women’s sports across both the business and the sporting side, having helped transform the Lynx into a marquee women’s sports franchise. This investment reflects Aurora’s commitment to building a club rooted in its community while advancing women’s sports and driving growth on and off the field.

“Carley and Cheryl are tremendous champions for women’s sports on and off the court,’ said Aurora Board Chair Allie Schmidt. “We are thrilled to have them as part of Aurora ownership as we continue to grow and chart our path to pro.”

Knox is in her 16th season with the Lynx and her 21st in the WNBA. She leads the Lynx’s business strategy, overseeing everything from ticketing and partnerships to marketing, PR, DEI efforts, and league-wide initiatives. In 2016, Knox launched the groundbreaking Lynx President’s Circle, which has since quadrupled in membership and supported more than 65 nonprofits and 5,000 underserved youth. A former Division I soccer player at Ohio University, she has carried her passion for women’s athletics into a career dedicated to using sport as a vehicle for community impact, gender equality, and social justice. She also serves on several local boards and advisory councils, reflecting her deep commitment to advancing opportunities and amplifying voices in the community.

“We are incredibly excited to invest in Minnesota Aurora FC, who we have supported since their inception,” said Knox. “They have built an impressive organization with significant fan and corporate support, on-field success, and a dedication to community impact. With complete value alignment, we are honored to join the Aurora family and help usher in a new era of women’s soccer in Minnesota.”

A fierce advocate for women’s sports, Reeve is the all-time winningest WNBA coach for the regular season and playoffs, a four-time WNBA champion and Coach of the Year, having led the Lynx to titles in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017, while guiding the team to seven Finals appearances. Now in her 16th season as Lynx Head Coach and second as President of Basketball Operations, she has also been named WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year twice (2019, 2024). Reeve’s coaching resume includes U.S.A. Basketball, helping the women’s national team to the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics as well as 28 years as both an assistant and head coach in college and the WNBA.